What it says on the tin! I hope this isn't too dumb of a question but basically, I really want to get into small game hunting and trapping, especially squirrels. Most of this would be done in local game lands, but we have a THRIVING squirrel population where I live and I'm wondering if I couldn't trap some in our own backyard. I can't help but see all these fat squirrels trashing my garden and think about how good they'd be cooked up instead...

Thing is, I want to do things legally. Squirrels are of course a game species so I don't see why I couldn't HUNT them with a license and in season, which I plan to do anyway, but shooting any firearm with neighbors doesn't feel safe. Or allowed. I'm wondering if cage traps (dispatched elsewhere) or conibears would be legal during squirrel season and count towards the possession limit, but I haven't found any information. I'm sure I could do so legally as they are quite the nuisance, but they're more annoying than anything, and I'm more interested in nabbing a few for the freezer and to curb their population a little.

Anyone have any insight into this or resources I could read? All I can find is nuisance trapping laws, and that doesn't feel quite right.


EDIT: Fool I am, completely passed my mind that conibears are only legal in PA if they're in water! So that's a no-go, but I'm still curious if cage traps and dispatch elsewhere is okay, or some other idea I'm not thinking of. Any help appreciated, I know I'm probably overthinking it but I appreciate any help.

Call your local game warden.im sure he'll be able to answer your questions. Welcome to trapperman

Get a good breakover .177 cal pellet gun.

Your problem is going to be that squirrels are not classified as a furbearers in PA. Traps of any kind can only be set for furbearers unless you're doing nuisance work. Your backyard might be ok. But you can't go out in the woods to do so.

Can't trap squirrels in Pa. Not without a special permit.
And you can't move a trapped animal from one property to another
Call your regional Game Commission office.
They will have answers you seek

Thank you all very much, I'll give them a call for sure! I only want to do things right so I'm glad I asked!

You guys out east have WAY too many laws. I just step out the door and shotgun them with the .410 and if I'm really mad I grab the 12ga. In MN I don't even need a small game or trapping license on my own land.

you guys elected Jesse Ventura, Al Franken and Ilhan Omar, so...I wouldn't talk if I were you.

Jesse wasn't too bad. But the rest were.......

Heh!! Only issue with firearms is we live not too far behind a high school, so firearms around here doesn't seem like a great idea. You bet when I get my first gun though I'll be out in the woods during squirrel season, but it kinda sucks that there's SO many right in our backyard...and in the garden...and on the porch...and there's not too much I can do about it. Based on the law, anyway. I understand why it is the way it is, but for squirrels specifically which are kind of a "secondary" furbearer, and trapped in other states, kinda frustrating that we can't do that here. Still, I can respect The Rules while being skeptical at the same time.

(Also to give an idea of our squirrel population: we came back from running errands to no less than THREE of them right on/around our porch, digging in my raised beds...probably half peanut shells instead of dirt, now! They're VERY bold, that's for sure! You can look out any window anytime and see at LEAST one or two of them hanging around, usually)

It's hard to allow general squirrel trapping when you have daily bag limits on them. We can't trap them here either except for when doing nuisance work

same here!

Had 9 grey squirrels on my bird feeding station,they wont let birds eat,so bought 2 duke cage traps the little 5x14 inch long traps.Caught eight in 2 days,baited with peanut butter on bread.

I've nailed prob a 100 tree rats this year. They have been trying to chew into every building on the place. I decided to pay it forward. I keep a few for the crock pot and give the rest to a couple of disabled vets and others that want and need them

>>> Absolutely. WCO's are helpful guys!!